Chapter 1 Access

First principle of good database design

A principle stating that data is organized in tables so that there is no redundant data.

Second principle of good database design

A principle stating that techniques are used to ensure the accuracy of data entered into a table

Caption

A property setting that displays a name for a field in a table, query, form, or report other than that listed as the field name

Flat database

A simple database file that is not related or linked to any other collection of data.

Secure environment

A system that uses controlled servers to ensure the security and privacy of email, to control the storage and use of information and to protect against the loss of confidential data.

Navigation area

An area at the bottom of the Access window that indicates the number of records in the table and contains controls in the form of arrows that you click to navigate among the records.

Object window

An area of the Access window that displays open objects, such as tables, forms, queries, or reports; by default, each object displays on its own tab.

Tables and related views

An arrangement in the Navigation Pane that groups objects by the table to which they are related.

Simple select query

Another name for a select query

Navigation Pane

Area on the left of the access program window that lists the objects in the database and is the main control center for working with database objects.

Structure

In Access, the underlying design of a table, including field names, data

Redundant

In a database, information that is duplicated in a manner that indicates poor database design

Wizard

Microsoft Office feature that walks user through the steps necessary to complete a complicated task

Truncated

Refers to data that is cut off or shortened because the field or column is not wide enough to display all of the data.

Layout view

The Access view in which you can make design changes to a form or report while it is displaying data so that you can immediately see the effects of changing the design.

Datasheet view

The Access view that displays data organized in columns and rows similar to an Excel worksheet

Form view

The Access view you use to view, enter, and maintain data in the table on which a form is based.

Populate

The action of filling a database with records.

Record selector bar

The bar at the left edge of a record when it is displayed in a form, and which is used to select an entire record.

Objects

The basic parts of a data base that you create to store your data and to work with your data

Data type

The characteristic that defines the kind of data you can store in a field.

Database management system

The collection of programs that manages the database structure and controls access to the data stored in the database.

Select query

The most basic type of Access query that creates subsets of data, displayed in Datasheet view, that can be used to answer specific questions or to supply data to other database objects.

Run

The process in which Access looks at the records in the table(s) included in the query design, finds the records that match the specified criteria, and then displays the records in a datasheet; only the fields included in the query design display.

Normalization

The process of applying rules to a database design to ensure that information is divided into the appropriate tables.

Import

The process of copying data from another file, such as a Word table, into a separate file

Export

The process of copying data from one file into another file

Record selector box

The small box at the left of a record in Datasheet view that, when clicked, selects the entire record.

Data Source

The table or tables from which a form, query, or report retrieves its data.

Destination table

The table to which you import or append data.

SharePoint

a Microsoft application used for setting up websites to share and manage documents

Database

a collection of organized data that allows access, retrieval, and use of data

Single record form

a form that enables you to display or enter one record at a time in a table

Database template

a predefined database you can use to assist you in creating a new database

Field

a single characteristic of data that appears in a table as a column

DBMS

an acronym for database management system

Field properties

are the characteristics that describe each field, such as field Size, Default Value, Caption, or Row Source.

Object tab

in the object window, a tab that identifies the object and which enables you to make the open object active

Server

A computer that provides data to other computers.

Link

A connection to data in another file

AutoNumber data type

A data type that describes a unique sequential or random number assigned by Access as each record is entered and that is useful for data that has no distinct field that can be considered unique.

Report

A database object that presents information in a format that is easy to read and print.

Query

A database object which enables you to locate multiple records matching specified criteria

Custom web app

A database that can be built, used, and shared with others through the use of a host server

Blank Desktop database

A database that has no data and has no database tools-you must create the data and tools as you need them; the database is stored on your computer or other storage device.

Primary key

A field (or group of fields) that uniquely identifies a given entity in a table

Common Field

A field in one or more tables that stores the same data

Multiple-items form

A form that enables you to display or enter multiple records in a table

Table

A format for information that organizes a presents text and data in columns and rows

Property sheet

A list of characters -properties-for fields or controls on a form or report in which yo can make precise changes to each property associated with the field or control

Relational database

A more sophisticated type of database that stores multiple collections of data that are related to one another; for example, data about the students, the courses, and the faculty members at a college is a

Record

All of the categories of data pertaining to one person, place, event, thing, or idea

Best Fit

An Access command that adjusts the width of a column to accommodate the column's longest entry

Currency data type

An Access data type that describes monetary values and numeric data that can be used in mathematical calculations involving values with one to four decimal places.

Number data type

An Access data type that describes numbers that might be used in calculations.

Short text data type

An Access data type that describes text, a combination of text and numbers, or numbers that are not used in calculations, such as a Postal Code.

Form

An Access object you can use to enter new records into a table

Design view

An Access view that displays the detailed structure of a table, query, form, or report

Information

Data that is organized in a useful manner

Data

Facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis

Append

To add on to the end of an object

Source file

When importing a file, refers to the file being imported